Track links for steam-shovel structure



April 6 ,1926. v H. J; BARNHART TRACK LINKS FOR STEAM SHOVEL STRUCTURE Filed NOV. 5, 1921 Patented Apr. 6, 192Ge I "U ITED srarss 1,579,499 PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY J. nannnaa'r, or MARION, omo, assrenon TO THE os'eoon COMPANY, o neuron, 01110, a conronarxon or onto.

TRACK LINKS FOR STEAM-SHOVEL STRUCTURE.

Application filed November 3, 1921. Serial, No. 512,519.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY J. BARNHART, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Marion, in the county of Marion and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Track Links'for Steam-Shovel Structure, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to track links for steam shovel structure and has to do especially with that class of steam shovels hav-' ing traction units of the endless traction type. It contemplates the provision of a novel type of tread for the traction units which is especially designed and constructed to provide spaces through which the dirt and other extraneous material may pass to the atmosphere, thus avoiding packing of this extraneous material in the sockets with which the teeth of the driving sprockets 00- act. I

My novel type of tread member is further equipped with guides that are relatively independent of the sockets which receive the sprocket-teeth and that are, therefore, free from any wear resulting from contact with these sprocket teeth. Previous devices in the art have attempted torely on the sprockets for guidance, to provide flanges on the supportmg rolls and to use guide flanges which also serve as means cooperating with the sprocket teeth to effect driving. These devices have'not been effective and I have discovered that by using guide flanges which are independent of the sprocket teeth, the operation of the driving chain is much more effective. For one reason, when the guide flange is used to serve also as a portion of the driving surfaces the wear upon this guide flange will eventually unfit it for either driving or guiding.

Another feature of my device has to do with the provision of an overlapping structure between the tread units which more effectively serves to exclude the mud and dirt that would otherwise have a tendency to work into the space between such units.

This is effected by the provision of flanges upon the lateral edges of thetread units which have such an interfitting relation as to permit a free movement of the tread units to every necessary extent but at the same time to practically cover the crevices between adjacent tread units.

The preferred embodiment of myinvention is shown in the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein- Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of one of my tread units. f

- Figure 2 is aside elevation of the struc ture shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Figure 1.

"Figure/1 is a section taken on line 4- 4 of Figure 1. In the drawings, my tread member is shown as formed entirely in one piece of metal. It comprises a table-like portion 1 with a flange 2 at one end and a flange 3 at the opposite end. Centrally disposed upon theinner side of this table-like portion 1 is an integral formation 4: which is-providedwith a socket aperture 5 extending entirely through the integral formation and the table-like'portion. Upon opposite sides ofthis aperture or socket 5 are flanged members 6 and 7 which extend upwardly as shown in Figures 2 and 4 to form guide members with their coaction with the supporting rolls for the tread units. These flanges or guides 6 and 7 are braced a ainst lateral pressure by means of integral anges 8 and 9 formed upon the inner sides of the table-like portion 1 and extending at right angles to the guides 6 and 7.

An important aspect of my invention has to do with the provision of apertures 10, 11, 12 and 13 upon opposite sides of the sockets 5. These apertures preferably each lead to the atmosphere-as, for example, the aperture 12 is connected with the atmosphere by means of the passageway 14 and the outer aperture 15, as best shown in Figure 3, while the aperture 11 is connected to the atmos-' phere by means of the passageway 16 and the outer aperture 17. The aperture 10 is provided with a passageway and outer aperture similar to the aperture 11 while the aperture 13, whichvis disposed opposite the aperture 12, is provided with a similar passageway but with a much larger outer aperture as is clearly shown in Figure 3.. The

It will be seen that I have provided a simple one-piece metal tread. unit structure wherein the guide flanges are positioned to guide the traction units independent ofthe tooth sockets and wherein these tooth sockets are provided with outwardly extending passages through which the dirt may pass at will.

Having thus described" my invention, what I claim is: 1

1. In steam shovel structure, traction units comprising tread members, tooth sockets in said tread members, said sockets having passageways leading therefrom, guides independent of said sockets, and overlapping flanges on said tread members.

2. In steam shovel structure, traction having thereof.

4. A track link comprising a base, an integral housing on said base, said housing forming a tooth socket, said housing comprising four walls,-and open at both ends, each of said walls having openings therein communicating to the atmosphere, and upstanding flanges on said housing, said flanges extending oppositely from said base, brace members extending from said flanges to said base.

5. A track link comprising a base, a housupstanding flanges on either side .ing on said base, said housing having a socket aperture in one end, and having an opening opposite said socket aperture, said housing comprising walls, having openings communicating -to atmosphere, upstanding flanges on said housing and extending oppositely from said base, brace members connecting said flanges with said base, said brace members integral with said flanges and base.

In testimony whereof I hereby afiix my signature.

HARRY J. 'BARNI-IART. 

